Hello!

The Summer Smooches product suite from our brand new Annual Catalog is available for purchase now!!!  It will only be available during the month of April – if you don’t get it now, you’ll have to wait until June to buy these products!  The Fabric Designer Brads and Decor Stencil are only available now and will not be in the Annual Catalog.

Click HERE to download the 2 page PDF featuring these products!  I’ll also be sharing samples and videos soon using these products as well!

Hi there!  I’ll be back next week with Quick Tip Tuesday and Tool Time Thursday!  I really wanted to focus on the Sale-A-Bration products for the last couple of days of it!  Remember that it ends on Saturday, March 31st.

Hello!  I found this article about Scrapbooking on Century Photo’s website and thought I’d share it with all of you!  Scrapbooking was the first paper craft I learned, so it holds a special place in my heart!  I’m including the text below, for your convenience!  From Century Photo:

“ALL ABOUT SCRAPBOOKING

Scrapbooking today is one of the fastest growing hobbies in the United States, and across the globe. Those who engage in scrapbooking range from individuals who put together simple photo albums, to scrapbooking enthusiasts who utilize specially designed albums to store and display their printed memorabilia, along with a large variety of embellishments.

So what is scrapbooking?

Simply put, scrapbooking is a hobby in which printed memorabilia – photographs, postcards, newspaper clippings, stamps, letters, and any other type of printed paper product – is contained within an album, usually with some type of design on the album cover, its pages, or decorative elements added through personal or purchased products. These can include stickers, decorative paper or die-cut designs, lettering stencils, or a host of other products.

So when did scrapbooking begin?

It’s difficult to trace the exact origins of scrapbooking. The history of scrapbooking may possibly date as far back as ancient Greece. But it can be said that one of the earliest forms of scrapbooking that closely mirrors today’s modern scrapbooking hobby is the collection of newspaper clippings. In the 1800’s, President Jefferson engaged in this activity, compiling several albums of newspaper clippings. Many individuals also did the same, adding drawings and other materials to their own albums. It was at this point in time that albums designed specifically for this purpose began to emerge on the market, along with journals and friendship albums.

In 1826, a book was published entitled “Manuscript Gleanings and Literary Scrapbook”. Written by John Poole, the book featured an instructional guide on how to display personal memorabilia, such as poems, letters, and pictures. These items were termed “scrap”.

This was a huge turning point in the history of scrapbooking. It created a scrapbooking craze in America, and even Mark Twain became a serious scrapbooking enthusiast, whose albums later sold for thousands of dollars.

The allure of keeping an album filled with preserved memories of personal and important events held sway over many, and these albums easily became cherished family items. But the introduction of photography in the mid-1800’s was instrumental in changing the future of scrapbooking.

Alongside scraps of paper with ornate designs and various colors, and preprinted pages embellished with various images relating to specific themes, consumers could now also find albums fitted with pockets to insert photographs.

However, following World War I and the recession, coupled with a massive production of photo albums as photography became more commonplace, the interest in scrapbooks faded. The spark was renewed in 1980 by Marielen Christensen of Spanish Fork, Utah. At the World Conference on Records in Salt Lake City, Marielen displayed over fifty volumes of her own scrapbook collection and the personally designed pages therein. When Marielen saw what a stir her collection had created, she published a scrapbooking how-to book called Keeping Memories Alive, and opened her own scrapbooking store.

Numerous additional scrapbooking publications began surfacing in the mid-1990’s, and the Internet helped to spread the movement even further across America and other countries. Stores selling scrapbooking supplies, and shops devoted wholly to scrapbooking also increased as scrapbooking fever spread tremendously amongst the populace. Today, there are hundreds, if not thousands of websites focusing on scrapbooking, and large scrapbook communites that meet online or in person at homes, scrapbook stores, or even cruises.

To the novice interested in scrapbooking, the amount of products available can seem overwhelming, but the most important item to focus on first is of course the album itself. Even choosing an album can sometimes seem daunting, as there is such a wide variety to choose from. An important feature of an album is its archival quality. Standard photo albums and lesser quality scrapbook albums will not be able to properly preserve photographs and other memorabilia, keeping them in their original state.

Older scrapbook albums were not “acid-free” albums, which unfortunately caused the photos and other items contained within them to be damaged over a period of time. Newer, quality-made scrapbook albums and materials are designed to protect and preserve memorabilia.”

Hi there!  Another post today – this time just catching up with last week’s Tool Time Thursday about the amazing color inspiration tool, Stampin’ Up!’s Color Coach!  Check it out!

Hi there! Here’s another card from the archives of Convention swaps from last summer!  Patterned Party was another one of those stamp sets that I had to have when I first saw the new catalog last July!!!  It is so great as it can be used for birthdays for people of all ages!  Such a fun stamp set!  (The sentiment is from the Bring on the Cake stamp set, which is fabulous as well!)  Check out the supply list below and head over to my online store to get your own Patterned Party stamp set!!!

Supply List

STAMPS:
Patterned Party (Wood-Mount 123065, Clear-Mount 123067)
Bring on the Cake (Wood-Mount 121899, Clear-Mount 121958)

PAPER:
8-1/2″ x 11″ Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
8-1/2″ x 11″ Basic Black Card Stock (121045)
8-1/2″ x 11″ Lucky Limeade Card Stock (122926)
8-1/2″ x 11″ Tangerine Tango Card Stock (115320)
8-1/2″ x 11″ Island Indigo Card Stock (122923)

INK:
Island Indigo Classic Stampin’ Pad (122937)
Melon Mambo Classic Stampin’ Pad (115656)
Lucky Limeade Classic Stampin’ Pad (122935)
Tangerine Tango Classic Stampin’ Pad (111834)
Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad (101406)

ACCESSORIES:
Melon Mambo 1/2″ Scallop Dots Ribbon (122985)
Basic Rhinestone Jewels (119246)
SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)

TOOLS:
Tabletop Paper Cutter (106959)
Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334)
Bone Folder (102300)
Paper Snips (103579)
Craft Scissors (108360)
Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Grid Paper (102787)
Stampin’ Scrub (102642)
Stampin’ Mist (102394)
StazOn Cleaner (109196)

This is an oldie but a goodie – one of my swap cards from Stampin’ Up! Convention 2011!  As soon as the new catalog debuted last July, my immediate favorite was this stamp set:  Creative Elements!  Probably my favorite stamp I own is in this set – the flourish one on the background piece.  A simple, monochromatic purple color scheme was the perfect way to showcase the beauty of this stamp set.  I also used the Rock-and-Roll technique on the center butterfly, where you ink up the stamp in a lighter color then roll the edges in a darker color!  Love the effect.  Also, the mat behind the Modern Label punched sentiment is from the Movers & Shapers Die (one I’m sad to say I neglect all too often)!  Two other favorites from the Idea Book & Catalog are also on this card:  the silver Mini Brads and the Lace Ribbon Border punch.  One last thing to mention:  Concord Crush is featured on this card and will retire at the end of May as it is one of our 2010-2012 In Colors whose time has almost run out!  I LOVE it paired with one of the 2011-2013 In Colors – Wisteria Wonder!

Supply List

STAMPS:
Creative Elements (Wood-Mount 122645, Clear-Mount 122647)

PAPER:
8-1/2″ x 11″ Whisper White Card Stock (100730)
8-1/2″ x 11″ Wisteria Wonder Card Stock (122922)
8-1/2″ x 11″ Concord Crush Card Stock (119792)
8-1/2″ x 11″ Basic Gray Card Stock (121044)

INK:
Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin’ Pad (122936)
Concord Crush Classic Stampin’ Pad (119785)

ACCESSORIES:
Silver Mini Brads (122941)
Basic Gray 5/8″ Satin Ribbon (124326)
SNAIL Adhesive (104332)
Multipurpose Liquid Glue (110755)
Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430)

TOOLS:
Tabletop Paper Cutter (106959)
Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334)
Bone Folder (102300)
Paper Snips (103579)
Craft Scissors (108360)
Paper Piercing Tool (116631)
Mat Pack (105826)
Modern Label Punch (119849)
Lace Ribbon Border Punch (122362)
Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine (113439)
Movers & Shapers Curly Label Die (114506)
Movers & Shapers Punch Windows Die (115953)
Grid Paper (102787)
Stampin’ Scrub (102642)
Stampin’ Mist (102394)

Hi!  Just wanted to make sure you all knew about the addition to our Simply Scored line!  The Simply Scored Diagonal Plate (125586) is now available for customers to purchase.  This plate works with your Simply Scored Scoring Tool (122334), by simply sitting on top of it and lining up with the grooves in the upper ruler part, so that scoring on an angle is just as easy as scoring with the original Simply Scored board.  The great thing about this plate is that it enables you to quickly and easily make custom envelopes for nearly any size card!  It also makes great boxes as well!  The plate has silicone patches on the back side to keep it from slipping and a handy arrow on the back that reminds you how to place it on top of your Simply Scored Scoring Tool.  The best part is that it is only $11.95!  Add a few other items onto your order and when your order reaches $50, choose a FREE Sale-A-Bration item as a bonus!!!

Please come back next week – I am planning on making some videos soon that use this new product!  Get yours now so that when I demonstrate it, you already have it!!! 🙂

Hello!  Today’s post is for those of you who may want or need to make a little extra money doing something you love!  I LOVE my job as a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator and would love for you to have this amazing gift too!  As a Stampin’ Up! Demonstrator, we earn 20% of what we sell as profit and that percentage only increases with the amount you sell (up to 40%)!  Also, leaders in our company earn profits based on the sales of the demonstrators that have signed up under them.  Stampin’ Up! also is really, really good to us as demonstrators – based on our sales we can earn free products or even trips to amazing places like Fiji!  You can easily make back the cost of your starter kit in just your first workshop or party!!!  Also, Sale-A-Bration is the very best time of the year to join as the starter kit is discounted and extra bonus perks are offered!

If you want to learn more, click HERE to take you on over to my “Join My Team” info page here on the blog!  Check that out and then call me at 816.341.0208 to let me know you’re interested in receiving a packet in the mail with more info.

Hi guys!  Sorry – I’m sicky again!  I hope I’m not coming down with something but I’ve been coughing, exhausted, and a bit nauseous today!  Yuck!  Anyway, as soon as I’m up to video editing I’ll be hitting you with all kinds of goodies! 🙂  Again I apologize!

Hi!  I apologize but I’ve been having serious issues with my computer today!  I think it is my fault for not installing updates but I’ll be back tomorrow with my belated Quick Tip Tuesday and my regularly scheduled Wednesday post!

Hope you had a great Tuesday!  Come back tomorrow for two posts!